Learning Skills Together Pilot Study

Primary outcomes

1. Change in Caregiver Competency

   Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks post-intervention; and to 8 weeks post-intervention

   This will be measured using the Caregiving Competence Scale. This measure includes 3-items pertaining to caregiver's confidence (e.g., "I feel confident that I am meeting the needs of my relative"). There are five response options to each statement ("Strongly Disagree" [1] to "Strongly Agree" [5]), such that scores may range from 3 to 15. A lower score indicates a lower level of confidence that the caregiver is meeting their relative's needs (i.e., higher scores are better). The outcome measure will use the average change score from baseline scores.

2. Change in Caregiver Mastery

   Time frame: Change from baseline to 4 weeks post-intervention; and to 8 weeks post-intervention

   This will be measured using the Caregiver Mastery Scale. This 7-item scale asks participants the extent to which they feel they have control over various parts of their lives (e.g., "I have little control over the things that happen to me"). Participants may respond that they "Strongly Disagree (1) to Strongly agree (4) with each statement, such that scores range from 7 to 28. The lower the score, the less control the caregiver feels that they have control (i.e., higher scores are better). The mean score for this measure among caregivers to frail older adults was previously reported as 19.42 (SD 3.29), with Cronbach's alpha of 0.78. The outcome measure will use the average change score from baseline scores.